Local Lawyers go back to school

9 November 2010  

South Lakeland District Council is coordinating the Local Lawyers in Schools Scheme in South Lakeland and working in partnership with Cumbria County Council.  A group of twenty-four pupils from Kirkbie Kendal School are already taking part in this innovative scheme. 

On Friday 11 November at 3.15pm, all the pupils and a group of volunteer lawyers from both councils will be taking part in a session to discuss Police Powers.  The scheme will directly deliver elements of Citizenship, a National Curriculum subject, to the class of year 10 pupils, with the aim to develop young peoples awareness and understanding of the law. 

Throughout the year students and volunteer lawyers will be involved in discussions and debate on a range of topics including Youth Justice, Human Rights and Employment Law. 

SLDC’s Solicitor, Nicola Hartley, said: “I am really excited to be taking part in the Lawyers for Schools Scheme and getting the chance to speak to young people who are interested in becoming lawyers.  This scheme is a fantastic way of listening to their views on a wide range of subjects and it will hopefully give them a real insight if they are considering a career in law.” 

Carla Baker, Head of Life Skills, Kirkbie Kendal School, said: “We are really excited about the opportunity to embark on this unique initiative.  For Citizenship to be a successful subject in schools it needs willing organisations to come and speak with students to make it a ‘real’ subject that is relevant to them, and this is exactly what this scheme will do.  Who better to speak to our students about the law than lawyers and solicitors.” 

The Citizenship Foundation, an independent educational charity whose aim is to engage young people with the law, democracy and society, has developed the Local Lawyers in Schools Scheme. These sessions are often the first time that young people have had the opportunity to discuss their thoughts on the law, justice and democracy.

Later in the year, there will be a Celebration Event in Kendal Town Hall on 30 April 2012 when the pupils will be presented with certificates to mark the successful completion of the programme.